Consumer Health Resources Center

The Consumer Health Resources Center is located on the main floor of Central Library in the Business, Science & Technology Division, at 89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica.

The Center provides customers with a handy reference collection of some 1,200 print titles on consumer health, such as encyclopedias, sourcebooks, directories, magazines, journals and online databases, if they need to understand a prescription drug; find out the symptoms of a disease; learn a doctor’s hospital affiliation; investigate a vitamin or herbal product; know more about a laboratory test; choose a medical specialist; decide on a treatment plan; complete a school/college assignment; or get information on other important health issues, particularly useful for health care providers.

For added customer convenience, the Medical Librarian, Al Piedra is available to answer questions and phone calls Monday-Friday from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Call him directly (or leave a voice-mail message) at 1-718-990-5130, or fax at 1-718-990-8570. He will assist with research, including access to DocLineTM, an online resource only available at the Library's BST Division, that links its Consumer Health Resources Center to a national network of medical libraries at most major U.S. hospitals, universities and public libraries.

When the Medical Librarian is off-duty during other weekday hours, or on weekends/holidays, customers should e-mail their health-related questions to him at apiedra@queenslibrary.org. Pick up a blue Medical Reference form at Central Library's front-entrance Information Desk to fill out and drop off at the Center's or BST Division's Reference Desks.

The Consumer Health Resources Center medical reference collection, including the DocLineTM electronic network, joins an already extensive array of print and online information available from inside and outside the Library, in English and other languages.